The magnet might be right. The fixing method might not be.
Choosing a magnetic fixing is not simply a case of finding the strongest magnet available.
How the magnet will be installed, what it needs to hold, the direction of the load and the surface it will attach to can all influence which option makes sense.
That is why magnetic fixings come in several different formats, from hooks and studs to countersunk magnets, adhesive-backed magnets and magnetic pads.
When would you use a hook magnet?
Hook magnets provide a removable hanging point from a suitable ferrous surface.
They are commonly used for applications such as signage, POS material, retail displays, visual planning and shopfitting, particularly where something needs to be suspended rather than permanently fixed in position.
The important point is that a quoted pull force should not automatically be treated as the amount a hook can safely suspend. The direction of the load, surface condition and contact area can all affect performance.
What is a stud-mounted magnetic fixing used for?
A stud gives you a mechanical connection point on the magnet itself.
This can make it useful where the magnetic fixing needs to become part of a larger assembly, fixture or component rather than simply being placed directly onto a steel surface.
Anchor Magnets supplies both pot magnets and magnetic pads with stud fixing arrangements, including neodymium magnetic pads with an M6 stud and nut.
When does a countersunk magnet make sense?
A countersunk fixing allows the magnet to be mechanically mounted using a screw.
This can be useful where the magnet needs to remain attached to a component while still providing a removable magnetic connection on the opposite side.
The Anchor Magnets range includes neodymium pot magnets and ring magnets with countersunk mounting options.
What about self-adhesive magnets?
Not every application is designed around a screw, stud or hook.
Self-adhesive neodymium magnets provide another way of incorporating a magnet into a product or assembly where an adhesive-backed fixing is more appropriate.
They are available within the supaneo® neodymium range alongside discs, rings, bars, blocks and other magnetic fixing formats.
As with any magnetic fixing, the complete application still needs to be considered rather than selecting a product on magnet strength alone.
When would you choose a magnetic pad?
Magnetic pads provide a larger contact footprint than many smaller individual magnets.
Anchor Magnets supplies both ferrite Magpads and more compact neodymium Neopads, with different fixing arrangements available depending on the requirement. Current options include studs, mounted holes and other attachment formats.
The original ferrite Magpad was developed for holding vehicle roof signs and was designed around three important requirements: holding force, resistance to sideways movement and a surface suitable for contact with painted steel.
That illustrates an important point when choosing any magnetic fixing: how the load behaves can matter just as much as how strongly the magnet pulls directly away from the surface.
Is the strongest magnetic fixing always the best choice?
No.
A higher pull-force figure does not automatically make one magnetic fixing more suitable than another.
The weight and shape of the item being held, mounting direction, available space, contact area, steel thickness and surface finish can all influence performance. Vertical, angled, moving or overhead applications can also behave differently from a simple straight pull test.
The fixing format therefore needs to work with the application, not just meet a number on a specification sheet.
Which magnetic fixing should I choose?
Start with a few practical questions:
- What does the magnet need to hold?
- How will the magnet itself be attached?
- Will the load pull directly away from the surface or act across it?
- How much space is available?
- What surface will the magnet attach to?
- Does the fixing need to be removable?
You do not necessarily need every answer before speaking to us.
If you have a magnetic holding or fixing requirement, send Anchor Magnets the application, approximate load, mounting arrangement and any drawings or dimensions you already have. We can help narrow down the most appropriate fixing format and identify anything else that needs to be checked. Alternatively, just call us and we can figure it out together.
View our magfix® magnetic fixing range or speak to the Anchor Magnets team about your application.